Ball suspected of causing drowning report

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- Authorities in Columbus say a witness who reported spotting someone drowning in the Chattahoochee River may have been fooled by a basketball bobbing in the water.

Firefighters called off a search for a potential drowning victim Tuesday morning after deciding the report was probably a false alarm.

Assistant Columbus Fire Chief Robert Futrell says nobody was reported missing on either side of the river, which forms the Georgia-Alabama state line at Columbus. He says there wasn't enough evidence to keep searching.

A witness Monday night reported hearing cries for help and seeing what looked like a head floating in the river. A police officer later reported seeing a floating basketball.

Five people drowned in the Chattahoochee River between August and early September last year.